Senator Church:
Rongelap.
What is the population on Rongelap
Island, approximately?
Mr. Kabua:
Approximately at the present time it is about 180
people.
Senator Church:
These were, you will recall, Senator, the
people that were exposed to some radioactive fall-out some years
ago and the purpose of the bill is to confer damages for the physical
effects of that fall-out.
Senator Walters:
Mr. Kabua:
Did any of them die as a result of this?
Well, according to the report by the Administration,
sir, no one has died of the effects from the fall-out.
They died of
me
other causes, but not directly because of the fall-out.
Senator Church:
Many were sick for an extended period and
there were evidences of burns, as I understand it, and loss of hair
and this kind of thing, but the full extent of the injury has not been
finally determined by the medical people.
Mr. Kabua:
Is that not correct?
That is correct, sir.
Senator Church:
We have a medical survey of the situation,
the latest one is published in January 1963, Senator, of the medical
effects of the fall-out.
senator Nelson:
In this bill, Mr. Chairman, I have not glanced
at it, the one we are talking about provides for an allocation of
compensation to individuals directly?
Senator Church:
establish
We have the bills passed originally which would
a trust whereby the funds would be administered by the
Secretary of the Interior through the Department, and we have a substitute
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